Who We Are

Staff

My name is Ross Hill. I have been blessed with an incredible wife and we have 8 children. (Yes, you read that right, 8 children. You see why she’s so incredible.) In addition to being a husband and father, I am the founder and director of Mariner Learning Collaborative. I have over 15 years of teaching experience in public schools, charter schools, colleges and homeschool. I have taught in a variety of settings from pre-K and elementary age children’s church, VBS, and youth ministry, to middle school students, high school, college, and adults. I love learning new things and sharing that with others. In the school setting, I have had the opportunity to teach Geography, U.S History, World History, World Religions, New Testament History, History of Technology, Current Events, Leadership, Technology courses, and Education courses.

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in History from Francis Marion University and went on to earn a Master’s degree in American History and eventually National Board Certification for Professional Teaching Standards. In 2019, I was recognized as Teacher of the Year at my school. While I love teaching and working with adolescents, over the years I met many students who hated school and felt trapped in a system that did not work for them.

My Story

Throughout my career, I became more and more frustrated with the regulations and constraints placed on students and teachers that reduced education to a “one-size-fits-all” approach that not only sucked the joy out of learning but oftentimes hindered authentic learning. The goal of improving standardized test scores at the expense of deep engaging learning and children’s social-emotional well-being did not sit well with me. While I have had the pleasure of working with many caring professionals who really want what’s best for students, they also feel trapped in a system that often hinders their ability to do what’s best for their students. I began to see that the conventional system of schooling was not working not only for my students but also for my own children.

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Over time, I felt God was leading me to step out in faith and create something that empowered adolescents to take responsibility for their own education and in the process recapture the joy of learning. I came to discover that allowing adolescents to have more autonomy over their education led to deep, authentic, and relevant learning that better prepared them for the life they want to live.

I also came to realize that learning should not and cannot be contained by the four walls of a classroom or the lesson plans of one teacher. At Mariner Learning Collaborative, we believe that learning happens everywhere all the time through a variety of sources and settings. While Mariner will offer classes based on the passions of the staff and volunteers combined with the interests of the members, we also recognize that much of their learning will occur outside of our classes. Mariner members will also have the freedom to learn through online courses, one-on-one tutoring sessions, one day workshops, college courses, a good book, discussions with their peers, YouTube videos, volunteering, internships, part-time jobs, and many field trips in the community.

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With the support of their parents and the staff and volunteers at Mariner, adolescents have the freedom to explore their interests and set their own learning goals and chart out the path that works best for them. Unlike conventional schools that impose their own goals and processes on students, sapping their motivation, Mariner members are working to achieve their own goals, fueling their motivation to work through difficult subjects to reach their destination.

Mariner is part of Liberated Learners, an international network of self-directed learning centers that operate independently but work collaboratively to support one another.

Feel free to check out some of the other self-directed learning centers across the country that are part of the Liberated Learners Network.

https://princetonlearningcooperative.org/
https://www.northstaradolescents.org/
https://libertysdlc.com/

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Assistant Director - Avery Freeman

Avery graduated from the University of South Carolina with two degrees in Philosophy and Classical Studies, and minors in Math and Physics. He previously taught Environmental Education at Georgia’s Rock Eagle 4-H Center, where he gained experience teaching subjects like Native American and Pioneer History, Team Building, and Lake Ecology to groups of all ages. He then gained experience in the classroom at CORE, an innovative private school in Georgia for students having trouble in the conventional school system. There he taught middle and high school math and science and directed an outdoor education program held on the school’s farm every friday. At the mariner school, Avery is eager to find creative ways to ignite students’ interests and increase their confidence both in the world and in Christ. When he’s not teaching, Avery enjoys reading, backpacking, and spending time with family.

Our Board and Volunteers

Our dedicated board and volunteers come from diverse backgrounds ranging from public school administrators and counselors to home school parents and teachers. They have worked in a variety of settings but they are united by a love for Christ and a desire to help kids thrive.

Where We Serve

We serve families from all over the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Our center is located at 3760 Southborough Rd. Florence, SC 29501 on the campus of HRBC – Oakdale.